Walk on Water
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Movie Reviews of Walk on Water
Movie Review: PROFOUND
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this movie to be a very moving and profound movie experience. "Walk on Water" tackles some very "heavy" issues-the "gay/straight" issue, the Israeli/ Palestinian issue the German/Jewish issue which are all very intense thought provoking things to think about and to deal with. However, in this marvelous movie no definite answers, to the aforesaid conflicts, are given. The movie just reflects human beings coming together and understanding each other a little more than they did before and ultimately becoming better people just by getting to know another human that might be radically different than they are.
The character Eyal, at the beginning of the movie, starts off as a cold, unsmiling, unfeeling, extremely "butch" "hit man" for a very militant Israeli fringe faction. One of his assignments is to infiltrate a German family in order to find out the whereabouts of the German family's old grandfather who was a murdering Nazi during the Nazi era and who has been hiding out in Argentina since the war. His mission, of course, is to kill him. The old Nazi's grandchildren are in Israel. The granddaughter is, defiantly, living in a kibbutz (she knows of her grandfather's Nazi background); the gay grandson comes to visit his sister with the idea of persuading her to return to Germany for their father's 70th birthday. Eyal, the mercenary poses as a tour guide to Axel the gay grandson. Eyal and Axel become unlikely friends. Their friendship ultimately changes the lives of ALL involved.
It really irritates me that some reviewers on other boards have reduced the blossoming friendship of Eyal (a straight man) and Axel (a gay man) to just merely one of sexual attraction. I failed to see the sexual attraction between the two men. I only saw a life changing friendship between the two men. It might come as a surprise to some in our society that it IS possible for a gay man and a straight man to form a deep, lasting and yes an affectionate friendship that is NOT sexual. I KNOW this from experience. Anyway, the friendship between Axel and Eyal changes them both-Eyal becomes more human and moves beyond a "killing machine"-he even learns to laugh and to realize that friendship can be found in someone that is different than him, a gay man! Axel learns to have more understanding of some very deep issues (i.e., the German/Jewish and Israeli/Palestinian conflicts)--the bottom line is that Eyal marries Axel's sister NOT Axel!!
The acting by all involved is superb. I can see why Lior Ashkenazi (Eyal) is a big star in Israel. He is not only easy on the eye but a very dynamic actor. Watch his eyes; they express volumes. You can see him go from an unfeeling and unloving person that is capable of injecting poison into a smiling little boy's father without blinking to a baby bouncing father with sentimental dreams. This great film wonderfully shows this amazing transformation.
If you are into profound movies that make you think, buy this film.
Movie Review: Interesting Twist to the Stockholm Syndrome
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is about finding a Nazi approximately 50 years after World War II in order to assassinate him. The Mossad agent, Eyal, just returned from Turkey and killed a terrorist there. His new assignment is to be a tour guide to a young German named Alex Himmelman, whose grandfather was the Nazi killer. The plan is to get friendly with this tourist and learn whether or not his grandfather is still alive, then "to do God's work before God is ready to take him" according to the Director of Mossad. The elder Himmellman is believed to be alive in Argentina where he escaped after the war. Unfortunately, when Eyal arrives home after the Turkish assignment, he finds his wife dead on their bed. She had committed suicide ... This life-altering event may affect his judgement and skills according to his superior. He is offered counseling but declines. His shooting abilities are tested on a target range from time to time, to ensure he is able to complete this important mission.
The film is fascinating on many levels. It delves into a deeply serious subject and questions the ethics of doing this type of work in a most creative and artistic manner. As Eyal becomes more friendly with Alex and his sister Pia who lives on a kibbutz, he begins to like them. Eyal places a bug in Pia's apartment to catch any conversation they may have about their grandfather's past. The conversations are all innocent until one night, when Alex tries to pursuade Pia to return to Berlin to visit her parents, to attend her father's birthday party. It turns out, Pia had a huge fight with her dad about the cover-up of what her grandfather had done during the war. One does wonder, why does the granddaughter of a Nazi end up working in a kibbutz in Israel? The film builds suspense and mystery based on this very question. The complex nature of the film makes it a superior viewing experience. The subject of the film is dealt with in a senstive manner and is balanced with humor. Eyal is played by a very handsome Israeli actor who befriends Alex and then learns by chance that Alex is gay. This subject is presented in a natural flow within the story line of the film ... The metaphor of "walking on water" as Jesus did on the Sea of Galilee is used with great affect and meaning. The viewer will be thrilled and entertained as intensity builds and the mysteries become more complex before they are resolved. There is a huge unexpected climax before the surprise ending brings about a 360 degree resolution to the conflicts. This is a most highly recommended viewing experience. Erika Borsos (pepper flower)
Movie Review: Is it or isn't it; do they or don't 5 Stars
Director Fox and Writer Uchovsky have certainly tackled some huge issues here: the Holocaust, Israel's relations with neighboring countries, and not necessarily least, relations between gays and straights (the latter being about as "mine-field dangerous" as the subject of Israelis connecting with Palestinians). Of course, with over 15 years as apparently loving partners, these two men should have some expertise in at least one of the three issues just mentioned (I'll let you, dear reader, decide which). Not, myself, being in the slightest an expert on the Holocaust or Israeli foreign relations, I believe I'll keep the following comments aimed in the general direction of that third issue.There have been tons of conjecture on major movie website Boards as to what was the "real" relationship between Eyal and Axel (and where it might have been heading). Apparently Director Fox has been quoted to the effect that "Walk on Water" is based on a true story of which he'd become aware. That story involved a real-life Mossad agent who had come home one day and found his wife hanging from the ceiling. She'd left a note saying how hard life had become with him, living with a killer who'd turned into someone emotionally closed. The agent cracked on his next assignment, left Mossad and enrolled in university, studying literature and art. There he met a young boy and fell in love with him. Eventually the former agent does meet his lover's sister, falls in love with her, and they begin a family together.
As a several times viewer of this movie, I've never found much indication that the gay, real-life "near-ending" described by Fox ever made it into this film of his. Nevertheless, perhaps he was leaving a little room for just such speculation when he gave us this film's near-end Berlin bedroom scene between Eyal and Axel. And, when all is said and done, the film does conclude with the two of them back in that Sea of Galilee beach scene, and Eyal's closing it all out with his (what I'll call) "Ode to Axel."
Lastly though, it does have to be acknowledged that movies with too much of a gay theme are, obviously, hard sells anywhere: US, Europe and Israel, no doubt. Directors and writers have to look out for the old pocketbook....and rightfully so.
Movie Review: One of The Best Films of The Year!
Summary: 5 Stars
Eytan Fox follows up his excellent little gem "Yossi & Jagger" with another winner that is even better than his last. I honestly am not sure why I loved "Walk on Water" as much as I did because, in a way, there isn`t much to it, at least not on the surface. It's a really subtle film, both simple and complex at the same time. But there was just something there that made it very engrossing. I came to really care about the characters and found the friendship that develops between Eyal (Lior Ashkenazi) and Axel (Knut Berger) really nice and touching.
The acting was absolutely terrific and some of the best of the year. Knut Berger (The Edukators, Sugar Orange) was very appealing and immensely likable as Axel. Him and Lior Ashkenazi, who reminds me of Clive Owen, complimented each other nicely. While not in the film quite as much, Carolina Peters was also solid as Pia.
"Walk on Water" seems like it's going to be a thriller, but really ends up being more of a character study, and it might just be better off for it. Political dramas are not usually my thing, but "Walk on Water" ended up fascinating me rather than boring me. I didn't really want it to end, especially as the last 25 minutes or so are the best. There were a few great scenes during this time. I loved when Eyal beat up the gay bashers. It made him that much more likable. And I also loved the last three scenes.
It would be great to see this get an Oscar nomination for "Best Foreign Film" but it's doubtful it will, even with the good reviews, since it was released earlier in the year. Movies that are, especially smaller ones, are usually forgotten by then, which is really unfortunate. This is a gem that deserves to be seen. After two excellent films I'm looking forward to seeing what Eytan Fox does next. I'm also interested in seeing Knut Berger in future films.
While it won't be for everyone, I still highly recommend "Walk on Water."
Grade: 8/10 (A-)
Movie Review: A Tense, Powerful Film
Summary: 5 Stars
WALK ON WATER, directed by Eytan Fox, is as good a movie as you're likely to see. It is well directed, acted and photographed and has a great soundtrack including music by Bruce Springsteen, Buffalo Springfield and Gigliola Cinquetti. The linear plot is straight-forward and powerful. Eyal (Lior Ashkenzai), in the Israeli Secret Service, is in the business of killing terrorists. After the death of his wife, however, he gets a new assignment: to track down and take out an aging Nazi war criminal "before God does." The Nazi's gay grandson Axel (Knut Berger) will soon be visiting his sister Pia (Caroline Peters) who has left Berlin to live in a kibbutz in Israel. Eyal poses as an employee of "Horizon Tours Israel" in order to get close to the German brother and sister in an effort to find their grandfather.
Although all the actors give fine performances, the movie ultimately belongs to Ashkenzai with his swarthy good looks and moody blue eyes. It is fascinating to watch him grow from a methodical killer to someone else entirely. (I won't give away the plot here.) The director does not shy away from difficult questions: Why are Palestinians desperate enough to become suicide bombers? Is it always necessary to take vengence in your own hands? Are there circumstances when you should leave an old, sick criminal to heaven? Can you love the children (or grandchildren) of an enemy? Does killing breed more killing? Can straight men and gay men be friends?
The movie is ultimately about hope and forgiveness. The ending that takes place at the Sea of Galilee, which is all about the title of the movie, will take your breath away.